City Council takes closer look at road, building projects

While winter has dumped nearly a foot of snow on Mount Vernon, officials have been taking the time to prepare for summertime projects.

City Engineer Brian Ball updated City Council at its meeting Tuesday on a possible chip/seal street project, as well as some designs for the new municipal center on South Main Street.

Ball said several residential streets in the city are in need of repair and suggested using chip and seal for some of them. The proposed project, which was given a second reading by council and will be voted on at the next meeting, will include several streets that are part of a Columbia Gas line improvement project in the south end of the city. The streets, between Martinsburg Road and Newark Road, will be dug up for the new lines and upgrades and Ball felt this would be a good time to resurface them as well.

Also included in the possible project are New Gambier Road and a portion of Glen Road, east of Martinsburg, that was recently annexed into the city. Ball said because of drainage issues and the canopy of trees that cover the road, New Gambier Road breaks down much more quickly than other roads in the city. The city can’t afford to pave it every 10 years, so Ball proposed using chip and seal to extend its life another seven to 10 years.

The chip and seal project would cost approximately $6,000 less per mile than the traditional milling and repaving of the roads, Ball said.

Ball also presented designs for the renovation of the COTC building at 236 South Main Street. The city agreed to purchase the bottom two floors of the building for use as its new municipal center. The center would include offices for all those currently located in City Hall, as well as the tax and water billing offices, and city council chambers.

The first floor would include offices for the mayor, safety-service director, and public works, among others. It would also include the utility billing department with two walk-up areas, the auditor’s office and the tax office near the front entrance on South Main Street. City Council chambers and a lounge area will also be included.

The basement would include the code enforcement department and engineer’s office. Ball said the biggest challenge in the basement is the lack of restrooms.

The project is expected to cost around $1 million after renovations and other contingencies. Council had a second reading on the resolution and will vote at its next meeting.

In other news, council:

•Confirmed the mayor’s appointment of Gregory Yashnyk to replace Austin Swallow on the Mount Vernon Planning Commission, and re-appointment of Amber Keener to the Knox County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau board and John Ruckman to the board of directors for Experience Mount Vernon.

•Appointed Jay Mahan and Dale Miller as council representatives to the volunteer peace officer’s dependents’ fund board.

•Authorized the safety-service director to lease the property at 1 East High Street to Sweet Street LLC. Almost Famous recently announced it was closing and another couple would be taking over the business.

•Authorized the auditor to pay the bills.

•Had first readings on resolutions adopting the Knox County Multijurisdictional natural hazard mitigation plan; authorizing the safety-service director to file an application to the state to participate in the Brownfield Remediation program for the justice center and state route 13 projects; and authorizing the SSD to advertise for bids for design services on the North Sandusky/Upper Fredericktown road improvement project.

•Had first readings on ordinances establishing the compensation, benefits and terms of employment for the city clerk position; and amend section 911.04 of the codified ordinances to change grease and oil traps to Fats, Oils and Grease control devises.